Team Rose Shootout: Saturday Notebook
In this article:
Prep Hoops was at the Team Rose Shootout on Saturday which featured six matchups of teams from around the Chicago area. We look at each game here in Team Rose Shootout: Saturday Notebook! Mercer Shines in Riverside Brookfield Morning Win…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPrep Hoops was at the Team Rose Shootout on Saturday which featured six matchups of teams from around the Chicago area. We look at each game here in Team Rose Shootout: Saturday Notebook!
Mercer Shines in Riverside Brookfield Morning Win
Riverside Brookfield has been a mainstay at this event over the years. They opened the event up with a 57-48 victory against TF North on Saturday morning. It was a big game from their star sophomore Cameron Mercer Cameron Mercer 6'2" | SG Riverside Brookfield | 2026 State IL . The top 30 2026 prospect is primed to make a big move up the board. He is a skilled and athletic two guard that can score from all three levels. Excellent mid-range game and was active defensively netting 21 points. Big man Stefan Cicic Stefan Cicic 7'0" | C Riverside Brookfield | 2024 State IL is among the best uncommitted bigs on the board. The senior near seven footer swatted shots and we came away extremely impressed with his passing while scoring 11 points. Their x-factor player is Danny Loftus who notched 9 points.
For TF North we liked what we saw from wing Leon Cooks Leon Cooks 6'4" | SF TF North | 2024 State IL . Big bodied wing at about 6’4” that has good length. Solid shooter off the catch that can play bully ball downhill had 11 points. A junior to watch for them is Jaylen Blakes who has some upside on the perimeter notching 9 points.
Lemont’s Balance Outlasts Solebo Scoring Barrage
This was the one man show of Lane Tech’s star senior vs the balance of Lemont. In the end Lemont got the narrow 60-57 win. Big game from their senior guard Ryan Runaas Ryan Runaas 6'0" | PG Lemont | 2024 State IL . He did a nice job of creating off the bounce while using crafty drives and finishes in the lane. Also drained a pair of threes for 15 points. Alanas Castillo Alanas Castillo 6'5" | SG Lemont | 2025 State IL is a junior wing on the rise. Plus shot maker from deep that has some size and athleticism dropping 14 points. Keep an eye out for guard Zane Schneider in the 2027 class as the freshman scored 8 points scoring at the cup for layups.
Lane Tech was led by Shaheed Solebo Shaheed Solebo 6'4" | SF Lane Tech | 2024 State IL . One of the top uncommitted guards in the state dropped 25 points slicing and dicing defenders on drives off the dribble, pushes in transition, and hit a pair of threes. Low-majors should be all over Solebo!
Evanston New Prospects Emerge in Win vs Marian Catholic
Evanston has a new team from last year’s group, but you know Mike Ellis is always going to have a next group at Evanston. They came up with a nice 52-45 victory against Marian Catholic. Senior combo forward Morgan Brown Morgan Brown 6'5" | PF Evanston | 2024 State IL has good strength and shoots it well from the perimeter netting 13 points. In the backcourt they got nine points each from Brandon Watson Brandon Watson 5'9" | PG Evanston | 2024 State IL and Antoine Thomas. A 2025 name to track is Theo Rocca Theo Rocca 6'3" | SG Evanston | 2025 State IL . The two guard brings athleticism and shot making while scoring 11 points.
Marian Catholic was led by 2025 two guard Zack Sharkey. Crisp mid-range shot maker that poured them in throughout the game for 14 points. Their big man James Bullock James Bullock 6'7" | PF Marian Catholic | 2024 State IL flashed with 10 points.
Stevenson Drops 35 to Lead Lindblom to Win Over Lincoln Way East
Cleveland State commit Je’Shawn Stevenson Je’Shawn Stevenson 6'3" | SG Lindblom | 2024 State IL has been on a tear to start the season. Big outing at CEC, win against Kenwood, then drops 35 points on Saturday at Team Rose in a 76-65 W against Lincoln Way East. Powerfully built two guard scored from all three levels. Strength getting downhill through contact and getting to the line. Also hit multiple threes and got out in transition off his defense. Sophomore Kaydin Williams Kaydin Williams 6'1" | CG Lindblom Math And Science Academy | 2026 IL had 14 points in the win. Well built wing that can knock in threes is one to monitor.
Big fan of Lincoln Way East junior guard Brent Taylor Brent Taylor 6'3" | SG Lincoln Way East | 2025 State IL . Long and angular two guard has a feathery three point shot off the catch that can pull up on the baseline as well. Showed off the athleticism on a big dunk and his defense in a 21 point outing. Going to make a monster jump in our next rankings update. Pair of up and coming wings to track are 2025 Brenden Saunders and 2026 Karson Thomas Karson Thomas 6'4" | SF Lincoln Way East | 2026 State IL . Saunders had 15 points while playing off his springs inside while Thomas hit 15 footers and finished with bounce inside as well scoring 14 points.
Brother Rice Defeats Bloom in 3OT Low Scoring Contest
Most of the time you would say a triple overtime game is a thriller. That wouldn’t be exactly how many described this one as neither team shot it well, but Brother Rice outlasted Bloom to win 47-45 in triple OT. Their junior star guard Marcos Gonzales Marcos Gonzales 6'3" | SG Brother Rice | 2025 State IL had it going late. He struggled most of the game, but came up with some clutch buckets coast to coast to send it to 3 OT along with the game winning free throws scoring 11 points. Class of 2024 power forward Zavier Fitch Zavier Fitch 6'7" | PF Brother Rice | 2024 State IL is a high-motor four man that rebounded at a super high rate while finishing out of the dunker spot for 9 points and 15 rebounds. Cale Cosme Cale Cosme 5'7" | PG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL is the ultimate leader at the point making key plays down the stretch in the overtimes for 14 points.
The most impressive prospect for Bloom was 2024 Elijah Allen Elijah Allen 6'7" | PF Bloom | 2024 State IL who is new to not only Bloom, but America. The 6’6” power forward is one to track with his shot blocking, rebounding, and touch around the hoop. He had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Another senior Payton Edwards Payton Edwards 6'3" | SG Bloom | 2025 State IL had some key buckets throughout the game. Was streaky shooting it, but made some threes for 13 points.
Mt. Carmel Has No Problem on Home Court to Close Night
The final game of the night was Mt. Carmel from start to finish winning 64-55 against Hillcrest as the Caravan set their stars in the 4th quarter. Northwestern commit Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL has his eyes set on a state title. Plus shooter with size that can slash and hit the offensive glass going for 15 points. Versatile forward Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL was effective as a defender, ball mover, and rebounder. Liked what we saw out of the Caravan’s backcourt. 2025 backcourt of Grant Best Grant Best 6'3" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2025 State IL and Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL had it working in the first half. Best finished with 7 points while Thomas had 13 points. They got a big shot in the arm with the addition of transfer Noah Mister Noah Mister 6'1" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2026 State IL who brings quickness, passing, and three level scoring going for 10 points.
Hillcrest was led by Jovohn Ratliff Jovohn Ratliff 6'1" | PG Hillcrest | 2025 State IL who notched 15 points.